The Brownsville Animal Regulation and Care Center (BARCC) held its first annual Toast-to-Tails Gala, a successful fundraising event that raised thousands of dollars to benefit the shelter. 

The event received strong support from the community, sponsors, and local officials, reflecting the importance of BARCC's mission in helping abandoned and unwanted pets find their forever homes.

The Toast-to-Tails Gala raised over $30,000 in sponsorships alone, which will go towards supporting the shelter's operations and services.

BARCC serves as a home for pets in the Brownsville community that have been abandoned or unwanted, providing them with care and shelter while seeking permanent homes.

Brownsville Mayor John Cowen Jr. expressed his support for BARCC, highlighting the shelter's services, including spaying and neutering, humane treatment of strays, and reuniting lost pets with their owners. He emphasized BARCC's role as a valuable resource for the community.

 District 1 Commissioner Bryan L. Martinez emphasized the importance of community events like the Gala in raising funds for free services such as vaccinations and spaying/neutering, which benefit local residents and their pets.

The Gala was a sold-out event, demonstrating the strong interest and commitment of pet lovers in the community. The event featured a silent auction and a fashion show with pets from the shelter.

Various city commissioners, including District 2 City Commissioner Linda C. Macias and District 3 City Commissioner Roy De los Santos, expressed their support for BARCC's services and fundraising efforts. Macias highlighted the need for the services BARCC provides in a community with many pet-owning households. Macias fundraised $7,000 for the event.

Dr. Antonio Caldwell, deputy director of BARCC, said that officials are already planning for next year's event. Their goal is to raise awareness and involve the community in the shelter's activities, emphasizing that every dollar raised directly contributes to saving the lives of animals.

 Commissioner De los Santos stressed the importance of maintaining awareness of the shelter's needs and causes throughout the year, not just during the Gala, to ensure continued support and resources for the animals in the shelter.